There’s a lot of expectation going into a film that has a premise like Claire in Motion. Claire’s husband has disappeared after leaving for a survivalist trip out in the woods, and she has been left alone to care for their child. When starting this type of film, one finds expectations to be frustrating. This isn’t to insult. In fact, many of the films that come from this mold crackle with an unmatched sense of energy and passion. The premise here though almost requires a kind of exploitative use of character and story, some horrible thing having happened to the husband, and some wrenching but familiar catharsis that you can get anywhere from any somewhat shamelessly offensive exploitation flick living and dying on the violence and sex at its core. The nice surprise of Claire in Motion is that this is not what it holds in store for viewers. Instead, this is an alluring piece emotional drama, about a woman realizing too late that she has let her husband slip away from her.
What’s beautiful about Claire in Motion is that it never even slips over into the realm of exploitative or for that matter familiar. There’s an instinct to jump into this type of film with an assumption that the more tender care for drama that most lend to higher budgeted drama won’t be present, but co-writers/co-directors Annie J. Howell and Lisa Robinson, don’t let Claire in Motion feel the strains that many other dramas would. Their film comes off honest mainly because of Claire.
The camera almost never leaves Betsy Brandt (of Breaking Bad fame) as Claire, who cannot comprehend the loss of her husband, but also seems somewhat detached from the situation. This is the same dramatic wrinkle that made Pablo Larrain’s Jackie such a great film as well. Claire doesn’t seem utterly focussed on the actual loss of her husband, but rather the feelings of closure about the disappearance that she feels she deserves. That there has to be a reason for her spending all that time building a life, only for it to slowly fade out. This makes a more interesting character because we as the audience are allowed to at moments find her selfish, and infallible and therefore human. Claire being played by a true powerhouse of an actress helps every moment of the film. Brandt, was very good on Breaking Bad, perfectly encapsulating the more emotional yet clueless nature of her character, and the same is applied here. Brandt specializes in this type of character and she often has a quiet disparity behind her eyes. The film almost banks completely on her ability to keep the intensity of the ever calm pacing up with just her performance and she does a breathtaking job.
The film’s camerawork brings it up to a further level. The film’s use of heavy close-ups helps place us in Claire’s head. The subtleness of the camera lets the more troubling thematic aspects of the story sneak up on you, and very slowly allow the mood grow around the film.
The simple plotting and almost adamant focus on Claire does make it kind of impossible to ignore the fact that everything else are peripheral details, and that overall the ending doesn’t do too much thematically with what the film’s working with, but Brandt makes the ending work nicely as it becomes abundantly clear that there are no answers.
Claire in Motion is a complete opposite of the film that it seems. Instead, it rises above those expectations and becomes a subtle, uplifting little character piece, that in many ways show the ability of film to illustrate quiet depth through a strong grasp of character and craft.
4 out of 5
Breaking Glass Pictures will release CLAIRE IN MOTION in theaters and On Demand January 13.
The third explosive chapter of the blockbuster franchise that redefined the spy thriller finds extreme athlete turned government operative Xander Cage (Vin Diesel) coming out of self-imposed exile and on a collision course with deadly alpha warrior Xiang and his team in a race to recover a sinister and seemingly unstoppable weapon known as Pandora’s Box.
Recruiting an all-new group of thrill-seeking cohorts, Xander finds himself enmeshed in a deadly conspiracy that points to collusion at the highest levels of world governments. Packed with the series’ signature deadpan wit and bad-ass attitude, xXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE will raise the bar on extreme action with some of the most mind-blowing stunts to ever be caught on film.
Directed by DJ Caruso, the film stars Vin Diesel, Donnie Yen, Deepika Padukone, Toni Collette, Ruby Rose, Nina Dobrev, Tony Jaa, Kris Wu, Michael Bisping, Rory McCann, Nicky Jam, Neymar Jr., and Samuel L. Jackson.
xXx: Return of Xander Cage is in-theaters January 20, 2017.
WAMG invites you to enter for the chance to win TWO (2) seats to the advance screening of xXx: Return of Xander Cage on WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18 at 7PM in the St. Louis area.
Answer the following:
Tell us your favorite Vin Diesel movie and role!
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OFFICIAL RULES:
1. YOU MUST BE IN THE ST. LOUIS AREA THE DAY OF THE SCREENING.
2. No purchase necessary. A pass does not guarantee a seat at a screening. Seating is on a first-come, first served basis. The theater is overbooked to assure a full house. The theater is not responsible for overbooking.
(L-R) Ruby Rose as Adele Yusef, Nina Dobrev as Rebecca Clearidge, Tony Gonzalez as Paul Donovan, and Vin Diesel as Xander Cage in xXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE by Paramount Pictures and Revolution Studios(L-R) Tony Jaa as Talon, Michael Bisping as Hawk, Donnie Yen as Xiang and Deepika Padukone as Serena Unger in xXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE by Paramount Pictures and Revolution Studios
Writer/director/producer M. NIGHT SHYAMALAN returns to the captivating grip of The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable and Signs with Split, an original film that delves into the mysterious recesses of one man’s fractured, gifted mind.
Following last year’s breakout hit THE VISIT, Shyamalan reunites with producer JASON BLUM (The Purge and Insidious series, The Gift) for the thriller being hailed as “Shyamalan’s most terrifying film to date.”
Though Kevin (JAMES MCAVOY, X-Men series, Wanted) has evidenced 23 personalities—each with unique physical attributes—to his trusted psychiatrist, Dr. Fletcher (Tony Award winner BETTY BUCKLEY, TV’s Oz), there remains one still submerged who is set to materialize and dominate all the others.
Compelled to abduct three teenage girls led by the willful, observant Casey (ANYA TAYLOR-JOY, The Witch), Kevin reaches a war for survival among all of those contained within him—as well as everyone around him—as the walls between his compartments shatter apart.
For the film The Guardian calls “a masterful blend of Hitchcock and horror,” Shyamalan and Blum reassemble their core team from THE VISIT, their wildly successful 2015 collaboration.
SPLIT opens in theaters on January 20, 2017.
WAMG invites you to enter for the chance to win TWO (2) seats to the advance screening of SPLIT on TUESDAY, JANUARY 17 at 7PM in the St. Louis area.
Answer the following:
The director penned the part of Dr. Fletcher with seasoned stage and screen star Betty Buckley in mind. “Night is full of joie de vivre and mischief, and I love mischief,” says Buckley. She also appreciates how Shyamalan taps actors with strong theater backgrounds. “Night is smart to use actors like James McAvoy who have roots in theater,” she commends. “Artists in that arena have an understanding of storytelling and discipline, and Night brings that craft to his filmmaking.”
What film did Buckley and Shyamalan previously collaborate on?
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OFFICIAL RULES:
1. YOU MUST BE IN THE ST. LOUIS AREA THE DAY OF THE SCREENING.
2. No purchase necessary. A pass does not guarantee a seat at a screening. Seating is on a first-come, first served basis. The theater is overbooked to assure a full house. The theater is not responsible for overbooking.
This film has been rated PG-13 for disturbing thematic content and behavior, violence and some language.
People commit unthinkable acts every day. Time and again, we grapple to understand what drives a person to do such terrible things. But what if all of the questions we’re asking are wrong? What if the cause of all evil is not a matter of what…but who?
From the producer of Oculus and The Strangers comes THE BYE BYE MAN, a chilling horror-thriller that exposes the evil behind the most unspeakable acts committed by man. When three college friends stumble upon the horrific origins of the Bye Bye Man, they discover that there is only one way to avoid his curse: don’t think it, don’t say it. But once the Bye Bye Man gets inside your head, he takes control. Is there a way to survive his possession?
Debuting on Friday, January 13th, this film redefines the horror that iconic date represents—stretching our comprehension of the terror this day holds beyond our wildest nightmares.
For a chance to win Run-Of-Engagement passes to see THE BYE BYE MAN in the St. Louis area, just leave a comment below and we’ll send five of you passes good for two people.
ONE WINNER WILL WIN A HOODIE FROM THE FILM!
Good Luck!
No purchase necessary.
Rated PG-13 for terror, horror violence, bloody images, sexual content, thematic elements, partial nudity, some language and teen drinking.
Directed by John Lee Hancock (SAVING MR. BANKS), THE FOUNDER features the true story of how Ray Kroc (Michael Keaton), a struggling salesman from Illinois, met Mac and Dick McDonald, who were running a burger operation in 1950s Southern California. Kroc was impressed by the brothers’ speedy system of making the food and saw franchise potential. Writer Robert Siegel (THE WRESTLER) details how Kroc maneuvered himself into a position to be able to pull the company from the brothers and create a billion-dollar empire. The film also stars Laura Dern as Ray Kroc’s first wife Ethel; John Carroll Lynch as Mac McDonald and Nick Offerman as Dick McDonald.
The movie opens in cinemas January 20.
WAMG invites you to enter for the chance to win TWO (2) seats to the advance screening of THE FOUNDER on WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18 at 7PM in the St. Louis area.
Answer the following:
In the 1970’s McDonald’s commercials featured the famed Big Mac jingle. What are the words to the song?
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OFFICIAL RULES:
1. YOU MUST BE IN THE ST. LOUIS AREA THE DAY OF THE SCREENING.
2. No purchase necessary. A pass does not guarantee a seat at a screening. Seating is on a first-come, first served basis. The theater is overbooked to assure a full house. The theater is not responsible for overbooking.
LA LA LAND was the big winner at Sunday’s Golden Globe ceremony. The film took home seven awards!
Written and directed by Academy Award® nominee Damien Chazelle, LA LA LAND tells the story of Mia [Emma Stone], an aspiring actress, and Sebastian [Ryan Gosling], a dedicated jazz musician, who are struggling to make ends meet in a city known for crushing hopes and breaking hearts. Set in modern day Los Angeles, this original musical about everyday life explores the joy and pain of pursuing your dreams.
Enter for a chance to win a LA LA LAND poster signed by Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, Damien Chazelle and John Legend!
Leave your name and email in our comments section.
OFFICIAL RULES:
YOU MUST BE A US RESIDENT. PRIZE WILL ONLY BE SHIPPED TO US ADDRESSES. NO P.O. BOXES. NO DUPLICATE ADDRESSES.
2. WINNERS WILL BE CHOSEN FROM ALL QUALIFYING ENTRIES.
WAMG has your passes to the advance screening of Martin Scorsese’s SILENCE starring Andrew Garfield, Adam Driver, and Liam Neeson.
SILENCE OPENS IN ST. LOUIS ON JANUARY 13.
SILENCE tells the story of two Christian missionaries (Andrew Garfield and Adam Driver) who face the ultimate test of faith when they travel to Japan in search of their missing mentor (Liam Neeson) – at a time when Christianity was outlawed and their presence forbidden. The celebrated director’s 28-year journey to bring Shusaku Endo’s 1966 acclaimed novel to life will be in theaters this Christmas.
WAMG invites you to enter for the chance to win TWO (2) seats to the advance screening of SILENCE on TUESDAY, JANUARY 10 at 7PM in the St. Louis area.
Answer the following:
Scorsese has directed critically acclaimed, award-winning films including Mean Streets, Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, The Last Temptation of Christ, Goodfellas, Gangs of New York, The Aviator, The Departed which garnered an Academy Award for Best Director and Best Picture, Shutter Island, and Hugo for which he won the Golden Globe for Best Director.
Which of the filmmaker’s movies are your favorite?
TO ENTER, ADD YOUR NAME, ANSWERS AND EMAIL IN OUR COMMENTS SECTION BELOW.
OFFICIAL RULES:
1. YOU MUST BE IN THE ST. LOUIS AREA THE DAY OF THE SCREENING.
2. No purchase necessary. A pass does not guarantee a seat at a screening. Seating is on a first-come, first served basis. The theater is overbooked to assure a full house. The theater is not responsible for overbooking.
This film has been rated R for some disturbing violent content.
Directed by Chris Wedge MONSTER TRUCKS hits theaters January 13, 2017 and WAMG has your passes to the advance screening in St. Louis!
The movie stars Lucas Till, Jane Levy, Holt McCallany, Barry Pepper, Tucker Albrizzi, Danny Glover, Amy Ryan, Rob Lowe, Frank Whaley, and Thomas Lennon.
Looking for any way to get away from the life and town he was born into, Tripp (Lucas Till), a high school senior, builds a Monster Truck from bits and pieces of scrapped cars. After an accident at a nearby oil-drilling site displaces a strange and subterranean creature with a taste and a talent for speed, Tripp may have just found the key to getting out of town and a most unlikely friend.
Melding cutting edge visual effects and state-of-the-art CGI, MONSTER TRUCKS is an action filled adventure for the whole family that will keep you on the edge of your seat and ultimately touch your heart.
WAMG invites you to enter for the chance to win FOUR (4) seats to the advance screening of MONSTER TRUCKS on JANUARY 7 at 10am in the St. Louis area.
TO ENTER, ADD YOUR NAME AND EMAIL IN OUR COMMENTS SECTION BELOW.
OFFICIAL RULES:
1. YOU MUST BE IN THE ST. LOUIS AREA THE DAY OF THE SCREENING.
2. No purchase necessary. A pass does not guarantee a seat at a screening. Seating is on a first-come, first served basis. The theater is overbooked to assure a full house. The theater is not responsible for overbooking.
This week’s episode of our podcast WE ARE MOVIE GEEKS The Show is up! Hear WAMG’s Jim Batts and Tom Stockman talk movies. Our guest in the studio this week is Lynn Venhaus, film critic for The Belleville News Democrat and the Kirkwood/Webster Times. We’ll discuss the weekend box office and review PASSENGERS, A MONSTER CALLS, HIDDEN FIGURES, and ASSASSIN’S CREED.We’ll discuss all of the local movie events, pay rtribute to the late Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher, and then Michelle McCue will call in and we’ll all choose our favorite movies of 2016.
2016 shaped up to be another fantastic year for moviegoers. As in past decades, every genre appealed to both fans and Academy voters right up to the biggie of all award shows, the Oscars. Below is a sampling of what AMPAS voters went for in the past fifty years.
1966’s A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS won Best Picture
1976’s ROCKY won Best Picture
1986’s PLATOON won Best Picture
1996’s THE ENGLISH PATIENT won Best Picture
2006’s THE DEPARTED won Best Picture
This year three hundred thirty-six feature films are eligible for the 2016 Academy Awards, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced recently.
To be eligible for 89th Academy Awards consideration, feature films must open in a commercial motion picture theater in Los Angeles County by midnight, December 31, and begin a minimum run of seven consecutive days.
Global ticket sales also proved to be impressive at the box office. ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY crossed the $500 million mark globally after just 12 days in theaters. 2017’s lineup of upcoming releases is looking to be the year of the blockbuster. We just love to go to the movies!
The films on the Geeks list of the Best of 2016 had us laughing, had us crying, had us horrified, had us cheering and had us on silvery journey to La La Land.
Honorable Mentions:
LOVING
A warm, touching intimate portrait of the couple at the the center of the Supreme Court case that struck down laws against interracial marriage, director Jeff Nichols’ moving film is more a romance than a courtroom drama. A very private couple, Richard and Mildred Loving only want to be allowed to live a simple life and raise their children in the rural country where they grew up, but must engage in a persistent, dignified battle to do so. Ruth Negga is particularly striking as shy, sweet Mildred Loving, in a breakout performance.
ARRIVAL
Starring Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner, ARRIVAL is a beautiful story about death and nature, and the mystery of life. Director Denis Villeneuve utilizes cinematographer Bradford Young’s photography to embrace with sensitivity and delicacy the relationship between a mother and her child in one of the most unique sci-fi adventures to come along in quite a while. Together the two filmmakers bring a lot of humanity and beauty to the movie.
10. HIGH-RISE
What if the party never ends? What if the apocalypse was happening around us and we were completely ambivalent to it because we were more focused on popping another bottle of champagne and not letting the music stop? More importantly, what if the guests actually want to drive themselves to the point of no return? HIGH-RISE is a masterful satire of society’s instinctual lust for depravity. Made with Kubrick-like precision, HIGH-RISE is an uncompromising look at an apocalyptic dystopia where the “party” is both a status symbol and an escape from the fire looming right outside our door.
9. ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY
Director Gareth Edwards energizes the long standing franchise with its first live-action spin-off based on just a line of dialogue from the 1977 original. Although the ending is known, this rollicking adventure packs plenty of surprises and humor (thanks to the snarkiest droid ever, the scene-stealing K-2SO, voiced by Alan Tudyk), while giving us heroes who must make morally questionable choices for the greater good. There’s noble self-sacrifice tempered with a final scene that’s been made achingly poignant by recent events. Plus, fans finally get a no-holds-barred “sith lord” rampage!
8. THE WITCH
THE WITCH was the best horror film in a decade. Drawing on “The Crucible” to investigate religious hysteria in the 17th century, writer/director Robert Eggers (making his feature-length debut) delivered an atmospheric film that conjured a sustained feeling of dread, as is presented the unraveling of innocence as paranoia and the possible presence of the supernatural conspire to destroy a vulnerable family.
7. ELLE
Isabelle Huppert is riveting as a woman plotting a complex revenge on her attacker, in director Paul Verhoeven’s twisty revenge thriller,. ELLE is a film that upends all expectations and Huppert’s character is far from a conventional victim, a woman who seems to go about her regular life as the head of a company designing violent fantasy computer games while planning her revenge. Both unsettling and electrifying, ELLE is filled with a wicked dark humor and relentless, clever surprises.
6. HELL OR HIGH WATER
In this gritty modern-day Western, two brothers played by Chris Pine (proving he’s much more than a starship captain) and Ben Foster (superb as a violent loose-cannon) hit back at the greedy bankers by embarking on a multi-state robbery spree. Their story is heart-breaking and compelling, but director David Mackenzie gives equal time to their dogged pursuers played by a laid-back, drawling Jeff Bridges, a Texas Ranger overdue to retire, and Gil Birmingham, a mixed-raced lawman who bares the brunt of his partner’s un-PC ribbing. Writer Taylor Sheridan delivers a taut crime thriller that’s also a biting commentary on the economic demolition of small town USA.
5. JACKIE
The film unites award-winning director Pablo Larraín (NERUDA, NO) with Academy Award-winning actress Natalie Portman as they re-imagine the private side of one of the most profound moments of the 20th Century. Larraín gives a boldly unconventional spin to the biopic genre, mixing historical footage with complete fictional re-creations, and excavating just one critical moment in Jackie’s life, but in all its intricately woven layers. The centerpiece is Natalie Portman’s haunting, emotionally naked performance which gives the audience unusual access into Jackie Kennedy’s inner psyche in some of her most volatile, fragile, reflective and savvy moments. It is a performance filled with tiny, honest human details that underlie even the most imposing and carefully composed of public images.
4. HACKSAW RIDGE
HACKSAW RIDGE was both the most gruesome and inspiring movie of 2016. Combining a stellar and charming performances from Andrew Garfield, and Oscar-worthy direction from Mel Gibson, HACKSAW RIDGE showed WWII as a glorious character builder, a nurturing ground for male friendship, and an expression of man’s nobility and grit.
3. MANCHESTER BY THE SEA
Casey Affleck gives a remarkable, moving performance as a man who reluctantly returns to his New England seaside hometown after the sudden death of his older brother, a tragedy that leaves him in change of his teen-aged nephew. Director Kenneth Lonergan avoids expected movie conventions about grief and instead offers a realistic portrait of coping with loss, sprinkling their relationship with unexpected humor as real life often is, and completely believable “guy” interactions between them. The film also captures a strikingly sense of place, as well as painting a portrait of this New England working family. Every moment between the pair feels real and authentic, which makes the dramatic moments all the more powerful.
2. LA LA LAND
What makes LA LA LAND such an astonishing cinematic treat isn’t just the instantly palpable chemistry between Gosling and Stone, but it’s the pitch-perfect combination of casting, ambitious direction, and sumptuous design that harmoniously sing together. The film is about chasing your dreams despite what hardships may get in the way. Regardless of what happens, there’s a sense of happiness for what occurred and not sadness for what might end – as the “Audition” song states, “she said she’d do it again.” LA LA LAND is a romantic musical more in love with the journey than the destination. And what a magical journey it is.
1. MOONLIGHT
Director Barry Jenkins is not afraid to show an experience that is rarely seen in film, and in doing so, spotlighting the skin of his beautifully flawed characters. There are gorgeous shots of vivid colors being cast on their black skin, reflecting their situation and the internal conflict within each of them. This moving portrait of a man struggling with his identity subverts the “coming of age” tropes we have seen before, and presents a story in three parts that feels downright momentous. MOONLIGHT might be the quietest film of the year, but each frame is bursting with life and emotion in ways that few films have achieved this year.
Check out our contributors individual picks for the year that was 2016.
Jim Batts
Honorable Mentions: KUBO AND THE TWO STRINGS, MOONLIGHT, and TOWER
10. ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY
9. LOVING
8. HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE
7. DEPALMA
6. MANCHESTER BY THE SEA
5. THE WITCH
4. SING STREET
3. HELL OR HIGH WATER
2. CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR
1. LA LA LAND
Tom Stockman
Honorable Mention: BIRTH OF A NATION
10. NEON DEMON
9. JACKIE
8. ELLE
7. THE LOBSTER
6. SHIN GODZILLA
5. HELL OR HIGH WATER
4. WEINER DOG
3. THE WITCH
2. CAFÉ SOCIETY
1. HACKSAW RIDGE
Cate Marquis
Honorable mentions: La La Land, The Handmaiden, Elvis and Nixon, A War, Weiner, Paterson, Captain Fantastic, Loving, Sully, A Monster Calls, A Man Called Ove, DePalma
10. JACKIE
9. BIRTH OF A NATION
8. I AM NOT YOUR NEGRO
7. HAIL, CAESAR!
6. JULIETA
5. LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP
4. ELLE
3. HELL OR HIGH WATER
2. MOONLIGHT
1. MANCHESTER BY THE SEA
Michael Haffner
Honorable Mentions: 20th Century Women and Life, Animated
10. ARRIVAL
9. EVERYBODY WANTS SOME!!
8. GREEN ROOM
7. THE INVITATION
6. JACKIE
5. LA LA LAND
4. ELLE
3. MOONLIGHT
2. SWISS ARMY MAN
1. HIGH-RISE
Michelle McCue
Honorable Mention: NICE GUYS, NEON DEMON, LOVING and MANCHESTER BY THE SEA
10. ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY
9. JACKIE
8. HIGH-RISE
7. THE WITCH
6. MIDNIGHT SPECIAL
5. MOONLIGHT
4. LA LA LAND
3. HACKSAW RIDGE
2. HELL OR HIGH WATER
1. ARRIVAL
